8/25/09

FOR SHAME, SCOTLAND!


The new crimson Scottish flag commemorating shamelessness.

Other than the national tourist board, there’s no bigger booster of Scotland on the planet than yours truly, but let’s call it like it is: the decision to release Lockerbie mastermind Abdel Basset Al-Megrahi is a crime against humanity. Scottish first minister Alex Salmond called Al-Megrahi’s release a humanitarian gesture, given that the convict has terminal prostate cancer and less than three months to live. So where’s the humanitarian gesture for the families of the 270 people who died when Al-Megrahi and his gang of terrorists brought down Pan Am flight 103 in 1988? Are we to cry crocodile tears over Al-Megrahi’s impending death? Not me; the planet is better off without him (and every single one of the Libyans who cheered him).

Al-Megrahi served twenty-one year for mass murder. Let’s contrast his treatment with that of Hitler aid Rudolf Hess. Hess—who thought the war against Britain was a mistake—landed in Scotland in 1941, where he hoped to negotiate a peace settlement between Britain and Germany. Instead, Scots handed him over to British government authorities, and he was imprisoned in Wales for the war’s duration. In the post-World War II Nuremberg trials Hess was given a life sentence for “crimes against peace” and “conspiracy” for helping to develop Germany’s war machine. He died in Spandau Prison in 1987 at the age of 93, and was the only inmate at the time of his demise.

Is a former Nazi’s fate analogous to that of Al-Megrahi? Not really; Al-Megrahi is a convicted mass murder and Hess was not! In fact, Hess was found innocent of crimes against humanity and war crimes. He was also repudiated by the Nazis and was stripped of all ranks and honors for his very attempt to end the conflict with Britain. Hess was in many ways a monster, but he was a humanitarian compared to Al-Megrahi. The full futility and stupidity of Scotland’s decision was revealed when Al-Megrahi received a hero’s welcome in Tripoli. It was an appalling display and ought to give pause to any Western nation considering rapprochement with Libya.

Humanitarian gesture? How about this one? Put Al-Megrahi on an unmanned drone, set off a bomb at 30,000 feet, and give him the same chance for compassion as he gave Pan Am 103 passengers. And make sure that Alex Salmond is on the ground when the pieces begin to fall, holding aloft Scotland’s redesign of the St. Andrew’s Cross flag—its blue background replaced by a field of crimson. For shame, Scotland.--LV

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